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Christianity Today, May (Web-only), 2008 |

Evangelicals Lament a Politicized Faith

New document calls for allegiance higher than political party, nationality, or ideology.

Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service | posted 5/09/2008 12:04PM

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The statement calls for a reaffirmation of evangelical identity — including the importance of sharing the belief that Jesus is the only Savior of mankind. It expresses concern that "a generation of culture warring" has created a backlash against religion in public life.

It also called for an openness to work with people of good will, including those of other faiths or no faith. The document also calls for reform of behavior within evangelical ranks.

"All too often we have set out high, clear statements of the authority of the Bible," it reads, "but flouted them with lives and lifestyles that are shaped more by our own sinful preferences and by modern fashions and convenience."

Others among the 75 initial signatories are Nueva Esperanza USA President Luis Cortes; Wheaton College President Duane Litfin; Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Jim Wallis, founder and editor of Sojourners magazine; and Frank Wright, president of the National Religious Broadcasters.

Related Elsewhere:

The manifesto's website has the document, signatories, and should soon have video of the press conference.

See also Os Guinness's article, "A Gentle Plea for Civility."

Coverage includes:

Evangelical leaders say their faith is too politicized (Associated Press)

U.S. evangelicals call for step back from politics (Reuters)

'Evang. Manifesto' targets stereotypes (Baptist Press)

'Manifesto' vexes evangelicals (The Washington Times)

'Evangelical Manifesto' Aims to Depoliticize Religion (Day to Day, NPR)

Manifesto aims to make 'evangelical' less political (USA Today)

Evangelicals try to reclaim their good name | Manifesto warns not to attach loaded labels to theological term (Cathleen Falsani, Chicago Sun-Times)

Interesting blog posts include:

An Evangelical Manifesto? (James K.A. Smith, Generous Orthodoxy Think Tank, part 2)

Thoughts on the Evangelical Manifesto (Joe Carter, The Evangelical Outpost)

Whither "Evangelicalism"? (Steve Knight, Emergent Village)

An seventh cackling (Jenell Paris, The Paris Project)

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May (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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leeza24

Posted: May 18, 2008 9:42 AM

Just More Politics In Another Disguise The leaders did the same thing every election time at TCOTW, Jack Hayford's church. He was usually careful, but many of the other pastors on staff there weren't. I was there when one of them actually publicly stated from the platform during a service that he didn't see how anyone could call themself a Christian and be a Democrat! People were upset and some even got up and left the service. Wednesday Night prayer meetings were more of a political campaign than a spiritual gathering. Prayers were invoked for certain politicians in the running but not for others. I was there the night we were all told to hold hands across the aisles to pray for all those in the running, but when we did the pastor asked God to let so-in-so win. That was the night I walked out. I was disgusted at being manipulated and lied to to make me pray for a certain candidate to win! It was pretty obvious the Powers in charge were Republican and felt we all should be too.

Billy Strain

Posted: May 17, 2008 12:19 PM

This Manefesto represents what many of us in the evangelical community had been hoping for... a statement that neither calls for disengagement nor for being an appendage of any political party. There are ways that one can take the values one learns in church and apply them in the public square for the common good (and not just for our own interest). For any who would dismiss this as a partisan document, they should take note of the signatories from across the evangelical spectrum. In addition to, say, Rev. Jim Wallis, the other signatories include David Gushee, Max Lucado, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Mark Noll, and Israel L. Gaither, among others.

Frea	Posted: May 15, 2008 3:56 PM

An agenda, not a Manifesto. Trying to pretend it is what it isn't. Typical. Reminds me of the fiasco surrounding the much-hoopla'd Spirit Filled Life Bible and the back peddling spin accompanying the embarrassing disclosure of exactly WHO had been the theolgian assigned as its Old Testament editor. Turns out Dr. Judy Brown got 30 years in prison for Attempted Murder when caught for the botched bludgoening of her lesbian lover's husband.

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